This was amazing. Poured pitch black into a shifter. The nose has a great mix of bourbon, oak, vanilla and roast. The mouthfeel was absolutely incredible! It was soft and silky and just rolled around. It had an assertive bourbon and roasted cocoa flavor and finished with a nice warmth. Fantastic! (297 characters)

Like others have said: A bit too boozy up front, let this one age a bit and I'll bet it's dynamite. It starts to come together a bit more as it warms but I think this one is about 6 months away yet.... (203 characters)

This was a bit too boozy for me. It's a ween slap right on the tongue. If you like your bourbon barrel stouts to taste more like the bourbon barrel than the stout, this is the plan for you. (189 characters)

Pours dark, thick looking. No head on average pour, some lacing. Deep, rich smell of Bourbon, roasted malts, some vanilla. Smells terrific. Taste mainly follows the nose with lots of Bourbon, roasted malts, less vanilla, a touch of anise on the back end. Good amount of bitter, roasted malts as a floor supporting all else, slight booziness. This is really good. Solid body, feels thick on the tongue.

This is a beautiful beer, very flavorful, balanced and complex. Very glad I was able to get this. Highly enjoyable. (560 characters)

22 oz. bottle, with no apparent bottled on date present. Per the label: "R.I.S. aged in bourbon barrels from 7-18-13 to 4-30-14". I have been holding this bottle down for about six months now, my third of the barrel aged beers from Spiteful Brewing. I've never tried the non-barrel aged variant, so I'm unable to say how they compare. Acquired for $17.98 at the local beer store. I'm very excited for this one.

Poured into a Duvel tulip glass.

A - It pours a thick viscous black that barely manages to conjure about an eighth of an inch of dark mocha foam. A glassy black liquid. Appears sticky and thick, yet it leaves hardly any lacing behind.

T - The barrel aging has really done it's thing here - hardly a trace of the original, presumably roasty, base stout is noticeable here. All that is left is sweetened caramel, vanilla, chocolate, and cookie dough. Mild alcohol astringency is noticeable, but not distracting.

M - The feel is silky, smooth, & creamy. Thick & full bodied with good carbonation.

Overall, a nice barrel aged RIS from Spiteful Brewing, although I might have enjoyed the others a bit more. If you are still holding on to bottles of this, take your time, as I'm sure this beer could benefit from some more time in the cellar. Very glad to have tried this.

Jet black and served in a snifter, dense creamy mocha foam on the surface. Long lasting with some spotty lacing.

Woody barrel aroma, caramelized sugars and vanilla.

Rich chocolate and vanilla flavors with dry woodiness in the aftertaste, and some overt whiskey notes in the finish as well. Medium bodied, there's a little astringency from the barrel, but its not a dealbreaker. Overall it's a nice warmer in the dead of winter. (486 characters)